Michigan Department of Natural Resources to take new look at whitetails

Tuesday

Feb 24, 2009 at 12:01 AMFeb 24, 2009 at 8:33 PM

A new whitetailed deer fawn survival study being launched by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will give insight into several factors in deer survival, from winter weather to predators.

Mark Spencley

A new whitetailed deer fawn survival study being launched by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will give insight into several factors in deer survival, from winter weather to predators.

The DNR research project will take place in the Upper Peninsula's Menominee and Delta Counties, but will have an impact of deer management across the state, especially Northern Michigan, where many factors will be consistent with those in the Upper Peninsula.

DNR Wildlife Research Biologist Dr. Dean Beyer is heading up the effort and listed a handful of factors that influence deer survival. He said disease, predation, weather, habitat and hunter harvest all have significant impacts on deer survival rates, but are not as well understood as they could be.

"Winter weather and the intensity of timber harvesting historically have been important factors affecting deer numbers in the UP. The recovery of large predators and the potential role of predation on deer numbers have interested the DNR and hunters for a number of years," Beyer said.

For the study, researchers will use high-tech devices to tell them when fawns are born, without actually being in the field. To pull this off, biologists will capture pregnant does during winter and attach radio transmitters that relays a signal when fawns are born in the spring.

Once the fawns are born, researchers will move in and attach the fawns with radio collars. With the collars in place, biologists can study the fawns' survival as well as causes of death.

For a deeper look into the affect of predation on the deer herd, black bears, wolves, coyotes and bobcats will also be fitted with GPS collars to help researchers estimate the number of fawns killed by each species during the summer.

Winter kill, a factor that has interested many hunters through this harsh winter, will be another key point in the research.

Researchers will look closely into the role of winter weather and habitat quality on deer survival by monitoring fat content and other health indicators during late winter.

Understanding the factors that affect white-tailed deer survival, and how they work together to influence deer predation, is important, said Beyer.

"We are very interested in obtaining the information from this study to help inform management decisions for both deer and predators," he added.

This study is a cooperative effort between the DNR and Mississippi State University.